120-year-old WNPS steps into the future

Saturday, 9 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“The history of wildlife protection in Sri Lanka is synonymous with that of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka...” The Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS), at 120 years old (est. 1894), is one of the oldest conservation organisations in Asia. It has been at the forefront of numerous important and critical milestones in conservation in the island. The founding of the earliest Game Reserves in 1899, the formulation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance in 1938 and the formation of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) in 1949 were direct results of the WNPS’ work with the Government of Sri Lanka. In more recent times, in the 1970s, the WNPS played a major role in saving our primary rainforest Sinharaja from becoming fodder to a plywood factory. Stepping into the future

At its Annual General Meeting on 26 July, at the Auditorium of the Meteorological Department in Colombo, this historic institution stepped into the future with the election of a new generation of Committee Members, a younger generation of conservationists as needed to tackle the many threats that face wildlife and nature in Sri Lanka today. In fact, in a progressive move consistent with the philosophy of a modern society, the membership passed a resolution that at least three members of the General Committee must be women! The society is truly stepping into the 21st century. At the AGM, the incumbent President, Prof. Lakdas Fernando, had this to say: “I consider myself fortunate to have a new set of Committee members who have also earned your approval for election to the General Committee. They are all conservationists and, in addition, are highly-successful professionals and entrepreneurs. I have no doubt that they will bring to the General Committee their experience and success, as well as vigour, vitality and zest to bring new thinking to the WNPS so that its voice may be heard loud and clear, and at the head of the conservation movement once again. I am no young buck myself, and so better see the need for this change, to make the society of relevance to a younger, more proactive generation of members.” Many challenges The new Committee will be faced with many challenges. The human-elephant conflict, unplanned development, unrestrained encroachment into protected areas, indiscriminate burning of forests, the poisoning of waterholes during the drought, threats to marine mammals and their eco-system from uncontrolled whale watching and ships strikes and discharge of pollutants… the list is endless. Unless action is taken, and taken soon, to stop this systematic degradation of the natural heritage of this country, then future generations will have to pay dearly for this present environmental callousness. The vast possible economic benefits, too, to the nation from conserving the wild places and wild creatures of Sri Lanka will be lost forever. No tourist would wish to visit neither a barren wastelands nor a concrete jungle! General Committee 2014/15

The following are the General Committee of the WNPS for 2014/15: Prof. Lakdas Fernando (President), Rukshan Jayewardene (Vice President), Charitha Gooneratne (Vice President), Rohan Wijesinha (General Secretary), Ranil Pieris (Treasurer), Ravi Deraniyagala (Immediate Past President), Darrel Bartholomeusz, Rahula Dassenaike, Madura De Silva, Major. Raajiv D. Wanigasekera, Tami Flamer-Caldera, Imran Jabeer, Namal Kamalgoda, Jeevaka Perera, Dr. Rupika Rajakaruna, Naresha Supramaniam, Ayanthi Samarajeewa. The WNPS has approximately 3,000 members and this new Committee will have the challenge of activating this large group into a force to raise awareness and protect the diminishing environment. Journal and magazine The flagship journal of the Society is the Loris, the leading journal on conservation issues in Sri Lanka which caters to both the scientific community and wildlife enthusiasts. It also publishes a magazine in the vernacular, Warana, which targets the Society’s ‘Schools Nature Club’ projects. The aim of this initiative is to encourage schools to form their own Clubs and Societies to take up and discuss conservation issues. This is done through lectures, photo essays, videos, the planting of butterfly gardens, etc., thus encouraging school children to join together in a common purpose – the cause of conservation. The society’s three well-located circuit bungalows at Yala, Uda Walawe and Wilpattu, available to members and the public, encourage the visitation of these areas, and thus promote their appreciation and conservation. Legal action The WNPS has taken legal action, together with some other environmental/conservation groups, to use all legal remedies available to address violations of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance by the State, other institutions and individuals. Litigation is a costly affair but the society has met with a measure of success in these endeavours. In an era where wildlife habitats are fast diminishing, the human-elephant conflict is at its worst, National Parks are being mismanaged and buffer zones of our fragile rainforests are threatened, it is crucial that the WNPS should be in a strong position to carry out its mandate. However, practical action in many instances in the recent past has been quite challenging due to a shortage of funds. ‘Green Tear’ concert The WNPS organised a recent fundraiser, the ‘Green Tear’ concert at which famed Sri Lankan group Alien Accent performed free of charge as their contribution to conservation. When calling for sponsors for this event, the society was informed that large organisations do not have a CSR budget for nature and its conservation. This is a ‘real’ concern and the WNPS suggests that the corporate sector rethink their strategies to include conservation and the environment in their CSR plans. Without a healthy environment and balanced ecosystem, not only animals, but people, their customers, would find it difficult to survive! The society will continue to engage with the Ministry of Wildlife Resource Conservation, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Forests and other Government institutions to ensure that they uphold the principles of conservation that they are entrusted to do. The society will also continue to cooperate and work closely with like-minded NGOs, and if a situation arises, will not be afraid to ‘go it alone’ to fight for the cause of environmental conservation. Its history demands it do so!